Open refrigerated display case



Aug' 14 1945 .J. R. cAuLK, J., ETAL 2,382,937

OPEN REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE `Filed Nov. 28, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug' 14 1945' J. R. cAuLK, JR., Yx-z'rAl. 2,382937 OPEN REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE i DML., [221 GAN THE/fe irme/ m Aug.k 14, 1945.

J. R. CAULK. JR., ETAL OPEN REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE Filed nav. 28, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 sists in providing a double baille constu Patented Aug. 14, l194s 2,382,937 oran semiannual) DISPLAY cAsE John R. Caulk, Jr., Ladue, and Russell E. Davis, St. Louis, Mo., assignors, by mesne assignments, to C. V. Hill Company, Inc., Trenton, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 2 8, 1941, Serial No. 420,797

13 Claims. (Cl. 62--89.6)

Our invention relates to refrigerated display cases, particularly to those of the type in which the merchandise is displayed in an open compart.. ment where it is readily accessible. 'I'he invention is particularly applicable to refrigerated display cases for meats and dairy products used in stores of the self service type. TheV invention has for its principal objects to improve the emciency of display cases of this general type, to provide for an attractive display compartment and to simplify and improveI the construction of the case in general.

'I'he invention consists principally in providing a curtain wall or baille in front of a cooling mechanism disposed in the top of a case having an open display chamber, said wall or baille extending below the level of the tops of the walls around said open chamber and fitting tightly` against the top and ends of the case. The invention also conction forming a front flue through which air flows upwardly toward the cooling unit and a rear flue through which chilled air flows downwardly into the display compartment. The invention also consists in the open refrigerated display case and in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view-of an open refrigerated display case embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation with a portion of the glass front wall broken away,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation,

end walls 4 are covered with facings I0 of suitable ornamental material, as porcelain. A suitable light I2, as fluorescent tubing,is mounted along the underside of the forward edge of the cover l.

The merchandise is supported on a foraminous sheet I3 or tray whose vforward edge rests onf'a bracket secured to the front wall 3 and whose rear edge rests on a bracket I5 secured to the i front anges I6 of channel-shaped members I1 whose rear flanges IIl` are secured to the rear wall 2. Preferably -a plurality of front brackets 4 Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view,'on an enlarged f scale, on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4,

of the brackets for supporting the members on which the display racks rest. v

The case includes a base I, a relatively high rear wall 2 of insulating material, a relatively low front wall 3 of insulating material, end walls 4 of insulating material having rear portions 3 of the same height as the rear wall 2 and forward portions 6 of the same height as the front wall 3 and a cover 1 extending from the rear wall 2 across the high rear portions 5 of the end walls. Glass plates Il or other ornamental walls preferably constitute the upper portions of the front wall 3 and similar glass plates 9 constitute the and rear brackets lli` areprovided, mounted at different levels, so that the position of the merchandise supporting tray I3 may be varied. Said merchandise supporting tray is provided with an upstanding strip I9 spaced from its rear edge.

The refrigerating mechanism preferably comprises a plurality of tubes 20 with cooling fins 2|. Said tubes 20 are supported by hangers 22 secured to the underside of the coverfand hanger 23 secured to the rear wall.

A curtain wall or baille 24 composed of insulating material, and preferably inclined rearwardly, extends from a strip 25 projecting downwardly from the cover, to a point below the level of the tops of the glass walls 8 and 9 and the low portions 6 of the end walls 4. Said baille 24 may be secured in place by means of angle clips 26 secured, as by rivets 2l, to said baille 24 and to plates 2B having flanges 29 secured tothe rear wall. Said curtain wall or forward baille 24 is fitted tightly against said strip 25 and against theend walls 4, to prevent leakagev of air that might interfere with the refrigerating cycle. Said baffle 24 is preferably provided with a mirror 30 or other ornamental front facing.

Disposed substantially parallel to the front curtain wall or baille 24 is a rearwardly maimed baille member 3|, comprising a plurality of strips of metal or other suitable material, extending from end to end of the case, with its upper edge 'at about the level of the lower edges of said radiating fin members 2|. Said baille strips 3| have substantially vertical lips 32 spaced slightly from the forward edges of said radiating iins 2| and substantially vertical lower lips 33. -Said baiile strips 3| are secured to said plates 2B by means of angle brackets 34 secured to the plates and to the baille strips 3|. Said rear baffle 3| projects below the level of the front curtain wall or bafiie 24.

. A depressed drain trough 35 and a drain pipe 36 are provided to carry away moisture that accumulates during the operation of the device.

The air flow is shown by the arrows in Fig. 4. The cooled air chilled by the reirigerating device 20, being increased in density, ows downwardly between the rear wall 2 and the rear baille 3l and` across the merchandise and into the'space 31 below the merchandise. Gradually a pool of cooledair is built up beneath and over the merchandise. The warmer air at the top is drawn into the ue 38 formed by the front baille 24 and the rear barile 3| and passes over the refrigerating mechanism.

The rear baille 3| serves primarily as a drip catcher to divert the drip to the rear of the case, away from the merchandise. The apparatus will function without the rear baffle, the column of chilled air dropping down from the refrigerating device and the warmer air from the top of the display chambermoving upwardly assaes? ond baille extending from one of said end walls to the otherend wall, substantially parallel with said iirst baille, the top of said second baille extending above the level of the bottom of said refrigerating device and above the level of the bottom of said iirst baiiie and the bottom of said second baille extending below the bottom of said first baille.

3. A refrigerated display case of the open type. comprising a base, a high rear wall, end walls. a low .front wall, a hood projecting from the top of said rear wall and overhanging part of the space between said front and rear walls, a refrigerating device in the top of said case adjacent to said rear wall, a rearwardly inclined baille member of insulating material secured to the underside of said hood and tightly fitted thereto 'and to said end walls, said baille projecting bebehind the curtain wall 24 and thence into the y refrigerating mechanism.

Because of the tendency of the dense, chilled air t0 stratify, there is little mixing of such chilled air with the hot roomair. As the lower edge of the curtain wall is below the level of the top of the glass walls 8 and 9, it will be seen that the upper portion of the pool of chilled air (which is warmer than the air from the refrigerating mechanism, but much cooler than the air in the room) will be drawn into the ilue 38 and recirculated. Thus a continuous closed thermosiphon system is created.

The open merchandise chamber can be kept at any desired temperature and the stratifying tendency of dense chilled air minimizes the mixing of air in the refrigerating system with warm room air, thus making the case economical to operate as compared with other open type cases. Other advantages are the provision of an attractive display chamber and the facility for selfservice. f

Obviously numerous changes may be made w-ithout departing from :the invention and we do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown.

What we claim is: 1

1. A refrigerated display case of the open type, comprising a base, a high rear wall, end walls, a low front Wall, a hood projecting from the top of said rear wall and overhanging part of the space between said front and rear wallsl a refrigerating device in the top of said case adjacent to said rear wall and above the level of the top of said front wall and a. rearwardly inclined curtain wall of insulating material secured to the underside of said hood and tightly iitted thereto and to said end walls, said curtain wall projecting below the level of said front wall.

2. A refrigerated display case of the vopen type, comprising a base, a high rear wall, end walls, a low front wall, a hood projecting from the top of said rear wall and overhanging part of the space between said front and rear walls, a refrigerating device in the top of said case adjacent :to said rear wall and above the level of the top of said front wall, a rearwardly inclined baille member of insulating material secured to the underside of said hood and tightly fitted thereto and to said end walls, said baille projecting below the level of said front wall, and a seclow said refrigerating device and below the level of said front wall, and a second baille extending from one of said end walls to the other end wall, substantially parallel with said first baille, the top of said second baille extending above the level ofthe bottom of said refrigerating device, the bottom of said second baiile extending below the bottom of said rst baille and said second baille having substantially vertical lips at top and bottom. f

4. A refrigerated display case of the open type, comprising a base,y a, high rear wall, end walls, a low front wall, a hood projecting from Ithe top of said rear Wall and overhanging part of the space between said front and rear walls, a refrigerating device in the top of said case adjacent to said rear wall,4 a rearwardly inclined baille member of insulating material secured to the underside of said hood and tightly fitted thereto and to said end walls, said baille projecting below the level of said front wall, a second baille extending from one of said end walls to the other end wall, substantially parallel with said first baille, the top of said second baille extending above 'the level of the bottom of said refrigerating device and above the level of the bottom of said iirst bafile and the bottom of said second baille extending below the bottom of said first baille and a foraminous merchandise support above said base and spaced from said rear wall.

5. A refrigerated display case of .the open typef comprising a base, a low front wall, a high rear wall, stepped end walls having rear portions of the same height as the rear wall and front portions of the same height as the front wall, a hood projecting from the top of said rear wall and overhanging part of the space between said' front and rear walls, a refrigerating device in the top of said case adjacent to said rear wall, a rearwardly inclined baille member of insulating material secured to the underside of said hood and Itightly fitted thereto and to said end walls, said baille projecting below the level of said front wall and said low portions of said end walls, and a second baille extending from one of said end walls to the other end wall, substantially parallel with said first baille, the top of said second baille extending above the level of the Y bottom of said refrigerating device and above the frigerating device in the top of said case adjacent to said rear wall and above the level of said front wall, a rearwardly inclined baille member of insulating material secured to the underside of said hood and tightly fitted thereto and to'said end walls, said baille projecting below the level 'of said front wall, a second baille extending from one of said'end walls to the other end wall, substantially parallel with said first baille, the top of said secondbailie extending above the level of the bottom of said refrigerating device and above the level of the bottom of said first baffle and the bottom of said second baille extending below the bottom of said first baille and a foraminous merchandise support above said base and spaced from said rear wall.

7. A refrigerated display case of the open type, comprising a base, a low front wall, a high rear wall, stepped end walls having rear portions of the same height as the rear wall and front portions of the same height as the front wall. a

hood projecting from the top of said rear wall and overhanging part of the space between said front and rear walls, a refrigerating device in the top of said case adjacent to said rear` wall fitted thereto and to said end walls, said baille projecting below the level of said front wall, a

-. second baille extending from one s of said end l said rear wall, the lower end of said second baille and above the level of said front wall and said low portions of said end walls, a rearwardly inclined baille member of insulating material secured to the underside of said hood and tightly' fitted thereto and to said end walls, said baffle projecting below the level of said front wall and said low portions of said lend walls, and a second baille extending fromone of said end walls being to the rear of the rear end of said merchandise tray.

10. A refrigerated display case` of the open type, comprising a base, a high rear wall. end walls. a low front wall, a hood projecting from the top of said rear wall and overhanging part of the spacev between said front and rear walls, a refrigerating device in the top of said case adjacent to said rear wall and above the level of the top of said front wall, a rearwardly inclined baffle member of insulating material secured to the underside of said hood and tightly fitted thereto and to said end walls, said baille projecting below the level of said front wall, a

` second baille extending from one of said end to the other end wan, substantially paraue1with said first baille, the top of said second baille extending above the level of the bottom of said refrigerating device and above the level of the bottom of said first baille and the bottom of said second bafile extending below the bottom of said first baille.

8. A refrigerated display case of the open type, comprising a base, a low front wall, a high rear wall, stepped end walls having rear portions of the same height as the rear wall and front portions of the same height as the front wall, a hood projecting from the top of said rear wall and overhanging part of the space 4between said front and rear walls, a refrigerating device in the top of said case adjacent to said rear wall and above the level of said front wall and said low portions of said end walls, a rearwardly in,- clined baille member of insulating material secured to the underside of said hood and tightly fitted thereto and to said end walls, said baille projecting below the level of said front wall and said low portions of said end walls, and a second baille extending from one of said end walls tothe other end wall, substantially parallel with said first baille, the top of said second baille extending above the level of the bottom of said refrigerating device and above the level of the bottom of said first baille, the body of said second baille projecting under said refrigerating device and the bottom of said second baffle extending below the bottom of said first baille.

9. A refrigerated display case of the open type, comprising a base, a high rear wall, end walls, a low front wall, a hood projecting from the top of said rear wall and overhanging part of the space between said front and rear walls, a refrigerating device in the top of said case adjacent to said rear wall and above the level of the top of said front wall, a rearwardly inclined baille member of insulating material secured to the underside of said hood and tightly walls to the the other end wall, substantially parallel with said first baille, the top of said second baffle extending above the level of thethe top` of said rear wall and overhanging part of the space between said front and rear walls, a refrigerating device in the top of said case adjacent :to said rear wall and above the level of the top of said front wall, a depending baille member of insulating material secured to the underside of said hood and tightly tted thereto and to said end walls, said baille projecting below the level of said front wall, and a second baille extending from one of said end walls to the other end wall, substantially parallel with said first baille, the top of said second baille being below the top of the refrigerating device and extending labove the level of the bottom of said refrigerating device and above the level of the bottom of said first baille and the bottom of said second baille extending below the bottom of said first baille.

12. A refrigerated `displa-ce case of the open type, comprising a base, a rear wall and a pair of end walls extending upwardly from said base, a front wall extending upwardly from said base to a lesser height than said rear wall, a hood projecting from the top of said rear wall and secured to said end walls and overhanging a part of the space between said front and rear walls, a refrigerating device in the top of said case adjacent to said rear wall and above the level of the top of said front wall, said hood including an element extending substantially parallel to said rear wall from one of said end walls to the other, and a curtain wall inclining downwardly level below said refrigerwting device and not above the top edge of said front wall.

13. A refrigerated display case of the open type, comprising a base, a high rear wall; end walls, a lo'w front wall. a hood projecting from the top of said rear wall and overhanging part of the space between said front and rear walls, a refrigerating device in :the top of said case adjacent to said rear `wall and above the level of the top of said iront wall, a rearwardly inclined bame member of insulating material secured to 'the underside of said hood and tightly tted thereto and to said end walls, said baille projecting below the level of said front wall. a secassaea'z ond baille extending from one of said end walls to the other. substantially parallel with said nrstbame. the top of said second baille extending above the level of l'the bottom of said refrigerating device and the bottom of' said second baille extending below the bottom of said tlrst baille, and a ioraminous merchandise tray supported above said base and away from said rear wall, the lower end of said second baille being to rear of the rear end of said merchandise JOHN R. CAULK, Ja. RUSSELL E. DAVIS. 

